Brand Betrayal

Lack of recent blog entries can be attributed to the rare productivity of this past three-day (yes, three, thank God) weekend. I'm pretty content with how much I got done, although there are a few material items that still should have been done. Nevertheless, I will try to focus on the positive in order to remain motivated.

I begin writing this entry as I just finished ordering a PSP from Amazon.com. A few years ago that would have been complete sacrilege, as I was (and still consider myself to be to some degree) a Nintendo loyalist. However, having lost my Nintendo DSi a couple of weeks back and still not having a dedicated portable MP3 player or cell phone, I've grown tired of having to revert to my prior habit of listening to CDs on the train using my Discman (between that and not having a cell phone, I feel like I'm trapped in the early 1990's, all my own fault, of course). I would have gone out and purchased another DSi (I like the pitch-modifier and tempo control its music player offers), but Nintendo is (supposedly) scheduled to ship the DSi XL sometime in the first quarter, so I figured that would be a waste. I am irked that we don't have a firmer release date, though. I also considered purchasing an iPod Touch, but even the smallest unit is relatively expensive and has little (and also very fixed) memory @8 GB, and if I do eventually get a cell phone, it may not be worth it. It is a pretty toy, though, and if I can get a deal on a version with more memory, I may yet pick one up. I figured that since I already have two PSP games that have been collecting dust in my basement cabinet for what must be at least two years now, I could justify this little spending splurge. Not like I have to defend this decision to anybody, of course.

But back to the issue of being a Nintendo loyalist. While doing research on the PSP, I watched a video review for Mass Effect 2 on IGN.com. I was pretty much blown away. I don't have time to go into all the details why, but on the surface, it just seems to have so much more going for it than the typical "hardcore" Nintendo Wii title. We're talking superior graphics (I mean, the Wii can't even hold a candle to its competitors), better sound, move involved and mature storylines, etc. A full manifesto on the topic is far beyond my capabilities now (and possible ever), but it gets harder and harder to defend one's position as a Nintendo loyalist these days. With technologies like 3-D TV and superior motion control (e.g., Project Natal on Xbox 360) on the horizon or even already here, Nintendo's recent efforts seem lazy at best. IGN has posted a couple of articles on the subject and I can't help but agreeing with most of what they have to say. I can't even imagine what games like Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, or the Metroid Prime trilogy would have looked and played like on a superior console. Now, it's possible Nintendo has something really phenomenal up its sleeve, but somehow based on recent experience, I find that harder and harder to accept on faith.

In light of this and further introspection (e.g., with current and likely future prospects on the manhunt front dwindling rapidly), the need for personal entertainment and diversion is increasing. To deny myself the opportunity to play games on other systems due to some sense of loyalty that might not even be justifiable any longer just doesn't make sense. I like to think of myself as a loyal person (although recent events with FREd and Papí may call that into question somewhat), but if that loyalty isn't earned or maintained, then such misplaced dedication is just an exercise in futility. Besides, given how good some of Nintendo's main series' music has been, I greatly look forward to what some of these other epic games sound like on other systems.

Having engaged in that self-exoneration, I could see myself owning an Xbox 360 and/or a PS3 within the next month. That would also give me additional impulse to upgrade my surround sound system, and possibly even my TV, which I've been thinking about more and more lately.

I actually finished composing all my Christmas thank you cards except for FREd's. I'm not sure where we stand right now. It's been over a week since we've seen each other in person, and now three whole consecutive days without any communication whatsoever, which was unheard of prior to this little falling out, or whatever it should be termed. I'm seriously considering giving back the money he gave me as a Christmas gift to use toward a Blu-Ray player. If we do end up terminating this relationship, I would feel obligated to do so out of some sense of making sure he breaks even on the relationship from a financial perspective (how Ð, I know, to anybody who gets that reference). Even if we do make up, as it were, I would still like to return the funds as some sort of penance or reparation. No matter what, writing this thank you will take some serious time. It would have even if things had still been on good terms. Sometimes I wish people would give me nothing at all, as the thanking process often more than offsets the gain, material or otherwise.

This week should be relatively easy now that year-end reserves are final. We have a bit of a lull until FR gets its act together and sends us shit. If I were smart, I'd use the time to clean and do some other catch-up work, but I'll find a way to fuck that up without fail.

I can't believe January is already almost over. One-twelfth of 2010, gone, just like that.

I woke up from a nap in the basement today all warm and sweaty, which hasn't really happened in a while. I was also warmer and sweated more than usual during my workout. I think for a while there, I actually thought I had this issue beat, or at least a bit more under control, but I fear it may be returning, and fast. I suspect it might have something to do with protein supplements after all, at least the ones that I take during the day. I've recently gone back to drinking two servings (approximately 50-60g total depending on the brand) on the days after I work out, so maybe that's it? I've also started mixing my workout powder with coffee both before and during my workouts, so perhaps I'm overdosing on caffeine? I dunno. I hate that Life has no control. There are always too many variables changing at once. <shrugs> We'll see where this one goes as spring slowly, and inevitably, approaches. I can always stop cold-turkey again like I did last year around March, but it took almost the entire rest of the year to see any improvement whatsoever, and my memory is so feeble, that it's entirely possible that I'm confabulating any improvement whatsoever simply to exacerbate the problem more in my mind. I really do think I'm my own worst enemy sometimes.

OK, it's after 3:30 AM now so I should get to bed so I can be at least somewhat functional tomorrow.

I *just* remembered that Legion premiered this weekend (I think). FREd sounded like he wanted to see that with me when I expressed interest in the movie. That makes me sad.

Time to go...